Just like with British sitcoms, America loves to create their own version of Japanese horror movies, with mixed success.

While America has had some success with certain remakes, they seem to have missed the mark of what made the original films great.

First off, there’s the film, which is like a remake but not, as it’s directed by the original director. Following on the success of Ju-On: The Grudge in 2002, American producers took note and made a version of their own simply called The Grudge in 2004. What makes this one different is that it hired the original director of Ju-On: The Grudge, Takashi Shimizu, which gives it some credibility. However, they lose points for hiring someone else to write the script.

The Grudge was a good film. The acting felt natural, and the script managed to feel like a version of Ju-On: The Grudge but changed a few plot points.

What lets it down, like most remakes, is they use the same scenes from the original. I’m not saying it has to be different, but change it up so some scenes are not a shot-for-shot remake of the original, and that’s where Takashi Shimizu and the writer, Stephen Susco, let it down.

While some have their merits and try originality, that can’t be said for another remake, One Missed Call. This is one film I would recommend you do miss.

The original film was released in 2003 and was a success in Japan and internationally, earning $17 million on a $1 million budget. Written by Minako Daira and directed by Takashi Miike. The film follows a group of people who get voicemails from the future predicting their death and is a very good film; that can’t be said for its remake.

The remake was released in 2008 and was written by Andrew Klavan and directed by Eric Valette. It keeps the plot similar, but the characters and acting are what let it down. The film also feels uninspired and lacks anything that would keep you interested. Despite earning $45 million on a $20 million budget, it was panned by the critics, with many calling it the worst J-horror remake of all time. It was the worst reviewed movie of that year and holds a 0% rotten tomatoes rating.

Now, one last film I want to talk about before I give my final opinion is a film that most critics believe is the best American remake of a Japanese horror film and even one that surpasses the original film.

The Ring is a staple of the horror genre, and when people talk about it, it is the remake that people are talking about.

The original Ring film, titled Ringu in the USA, was released in 1998 and has a very similar plot to what the 2002 remake follows. It was written by Hiroshi Takahashi and directed by Hideo Nakata, who would go on to direct the sequel of the remake, The Ring Two.
If you have watched the remake, you will know the full plot. Woman watches tape, woman gets seven days to live, woman needs to figure out the origins of the curse to end it.
What I will say is the set production is so much more in-depth, and the cinematography is so perfect for the atmosphere; it’s beautiful.

The original film has great acting, but some shots do nothing to impress. A certain shot will show the quality of the films. Ringu has a close-up shot of Sadako’s eye when the remake uses her full face. In full makeup to seem rotted.
If that is not enough, the box office tells you everything.

Ringu grossed $19 million, while The Ring grossed $250 million and also became a genre staple.

So, after everything I’ve said and all the films I’ve mentioned, what are your thoughts?

I’d say that J-Horror that has amazing character development will fail when it comes to the remakes, as that is an aspect that American films lack – not all American films, though.

They can make a film that suffers from a low budget but has a compelling story and remake it with a higher budget and can make a better version.

All in all, I’m going to say no, they didn’t always make a better version. J-Horror is a genre on its own and is brilliant in its own genre, and a low budget can add to the beauty of it.

Not every film needs an American remake, as they have money in their eyes most of the time and value money-making over art.